Cardiff deserved a replay, admits relieved Wenger as Arsenal close in on Arshavin

26 January 2009 01:36

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Second chance: Arsene Wenger admitted Dave Jones' Cardiff deserved a replay after being held to a goalless draw at Ninian Park
'They created really good chances from crosses in the first half, and the quality of their defending and their commitment stopped us from scoring in the second.
'We could do without the replay, but if that's the price to pay to stay in the hat, we will do it. I could rest a few players today, but not as many as I wanted to. I had planned to take Robin van Persie off if possible, but it didn't work out that way.'
Arsenal will have to squeeze their replay at the Emirates - for the right to entertain West Bromwich Albion or Burnley - into a congested fixture list that will include Champions League matches next month.
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Cardiff manager Dave Jones was delighted by his side's display, especially the manner in which they had attacked Arsenal.
Jones said: 'We gave it a go, as we said we would. It just shows how far we have come as a club that two-and-a-half years ago we would have strung five across the middle of the park and tried to contain Arsenal because of the players they had and the players we had.
'Today we felt confident enough to have a go. I don't think anyone could walk away disappointed from Ninian Park today.'
Meanwhile, Andrei Arshavin was close to completing his transfer to Arsenal last night after Zenit St Petersburg abandoned hope of raising£20million from the sale.
Arsenal are understood to have set a deadline of today and Zenit will decide this afternoon.
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